A Busy Life , numerous activities, the pressure of problems that come up, uncertainties about the future—all these can lead a person to a search for relief. The "happy hour," going out with friends after work, may look like a legitimate way to find this relief.

What happens, however, is that these outings center on alcohol. Advertising constantly presents drinking as a remedy for all the pressures of modern living.

During a television program I saw, a comment was made that 25 percent of all available hospital beds are occupied by people involved in accidents caused by alcohol, or who are ill because of alcohol. The program said that this number is much too large, and that it represents a very high cost, not only for the individual and his or her family, but for society as well.

If we want to help, where should we start?

Each person can start with himself, herself. I realized the importance of quitting drinking when I was young. I would always go out with my friends. Being different made me feel despised and insecure. And to feel accepted by the group, I drank along with them.

One early morning I arrived home drunk and feeling sick. I threw up. I went right to bed. As soon as I woke up, I went to clean up the mess I'd made. While doing this, I heard a persistent voice asking me when I was going to stop drinking.

I had been healed by Christian Science as a child, and I really wanted to pray and heal other people. This same voice continued, "If you want to do that, then stop drinking now." But I answered, "Someday I'll stop."

I knew this was the voice of my consciousness, reasoning with me to help me make a decision on the side of good, on the side of freedom, and not on the side of addiction to alcohol. Since I had already stopped smoking, I knew deep down that I could also stop drinking. I continued to think for a few more minutes there on the floor ... until I told myself, "From now on I won't drink again. Yesterday's was my last beer."

And that's what really happened. I've been free from tobacco and alcohol for more than 50 years, and I've never missed them. I never again felt the desire to drink, not at birthdays or other parties, nor when new drinks were introduced. I feel very happy about this, and even happier that I'm able to help others to gain the spiritual understanding that liberates them and brings them joy.

The Bible, the most sold and most read book in the world, asks: "Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder" (Prov. 23:29–32). God gives us intelligence and self-control to resist the attractions that, deep down, represent danger. He constantly provides us all good, so that there is no need to look to things like alcohol for well-being and happiness, which in reality are in Spirit, in God.

We have a higher nature—the nature we received from God when He created us in His likeness. As we use the intelligence and wisdom given by the creator, we do not allow ourselves to be guided by destructive amusements, or by the pride of following what other people impose on us or what the majority dictates.

When we're in communion with God, who is Spirit, we're conscious of our spiritual nature. The desire to drink alcohol fades. This communion satisfies with lasting happiness, as I found out. And it gives us a life full of health and peace.